Panthers earn point in 2-2 draw with Acadia
The UPEI Panthers may have earned a point, but it should’ve been more.
By Thomas Becker
The UPEI Panthers may have earned a point, but it should've been more.
The Panthers (1-0-1) finished in a 2-2 draw with the Acadia Axemen Sunday afternoon and the feeling afterwards was one of missed opportunity.
UPEI carried a 1-0 lead late in the first half before Acadia (0-1-1) tied it up in extra time. And in the second half, after the Panthers regained the lead, the Axemen evened the score again with a late goal.
Sophomores Will Campbell and Jacob Tweel scored for the home team, while Michael O'Flynn and Oscar Marshall deposited goals for the visitors.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the 19th minute on a perfectly executed free kick. Riad Jaha floated the ball into the scoring area where Max VanWiechen headed it to Campbell, who was in the right place for the easy tap in.
Acadia was dealt another blow in the 40th minute when Gabe Morgan's aggressive slide tackle resulted in a red card and his ejection. Not many teams can overcome being a man down, but for the Axemen it seemed to fuel them. In the dying seconds of the first half, Marshall took a deep pass from a teammate and fired a shot that was saved by a diving Isaac Wolters, but O'Flynn was there for the rebound to tie it at one apiece.
The Panthers struck again 10 minutes into the second half on another set piece. Kasper Lasia curled a corner into the box, where VanWiechen got to it again with a header, leading to a tap in from Tweel.
The home team had a chance to add to their lead in the 71st minute when Emile Abele gathered a pass, turned and centred himself before firing a rocket off the crossbar. However, in their attempt to clear the ball to safety, Acadia fouled Campbell in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Riad Jaha was asked to take the shot, but the third-year fullback pulled it wide right to keep it a 2-1 lead.
That missed opportunity opened the door for the Axemen to steal a point, and that's exactly what they did. On a free kick in the 84th minute, the ball bounced around in the box before Marshall fired it by Wolters for the equalizer.
The Panthers look to get back in the win column when they take on the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus September 8 at 7:15 p.m. The Axemen return home for a Saturday game against the Mount Allison Mounties.
